It is my pleasure to rise this afternoon to talk about our budget bill, third reading. I want to thank, before I begin, obviously, the Minister of Finance for his tireless work for the people of Ontario and his work in this budget. I also want to thank the member from Oakville as well for his work and the member from Mississauga–Malton for his work on this budget as well, and obviously thank the previous parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Finance, the member from Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound, for his work on this very important document.

It’s a pleasure to share how our government is taking every step and every action to build a better future for residents in Perth–Wellington and right across Ontario.

Just under two years ago, the people of Ontario sent a message to Queen’s Park. They told us to get on with the work of building Ontario, and they sent a message that our Progressive Conservative Party, under the leadership of Premier Ford, is the only party that will get it done for Ontarians in every part of our beautiful province.

Speaker, with this budget, our government is showing up for Ontarians. We’re investing in critical infrastructure, and we’re building homes, hospitals and highways, to name a few things.

Our government knows how important it is to address the housing supply crisis Ontarians are currently facing. We understand the pressure and anxiety our younger generations feel when anticipating their prospects for home ownership.

At the same time, we recognize the financial pressures faced by home builders in this province—in part, as we talk about often in the government and in the majority middle on the other side of this House, is the carbon tax, which is supported by the federal Liberals, obviously, and the NDP in Ottawa that continues to prop them up. The current leader of the federal NDP, obviously, Speaker, as you know, is from this place, and their provincial colleagues do nothing to call on the federal Liberal government to scrap this tax. But I digress.

That’s why our government has stood up and taken steps to help Ontarians overcome these unnecessary burdens. We’re working directly with our municipal partners to ensure that the next generation of Ontarians is not left behind, but is instead lifted up and supported in their dreams of home ownership across this province.

Last year, we announced the Building Faster Fund, a $1.2-billion investment in the next generation of Ontarians. This investment rewards municipalities for progress towards their housing targets, ensuring that as mayors and councils across Ontario make commitments to building in their communities, our government is there to support their growth.

Over the past several months, I’ve had the distinct pleasure to travel throughout southern Ontario to congratulate some of these mayors and their respective councils on their progress. Thanks to our collective success, I was proud to announce millions of dollars in provincial funding through the Building Faster Fund in Welland, Peterborough, Innisfil, Kawartha Lakes and Georgina. I know Premier Ford, Minister Calandra and Associate Minister Flack were also pleased to be able to make these important announcements across Ontario, highlighting the important work our municipal partners are doing to get homes built across this province.

I will mention Frank, the mayor of Welland, is obviously, after this debate this evening, at a reception downstairs, or up here, I believe, on this floor, in the Legislative Assembly—a reception for Niagara Week and the great work our member from Niagara West does to highlight those needs in this place and advocate for those communities.

Speaker, our government champions the Team Ontario approach, and we know that when we all come together in unison to take action on the housing supply crisis left by the former Liberal government, a better and brighter future is possible for the next generation.

In the same vein, we know more work needs to be done. With more than 2,000 people coming to Ontario each day last year, we need an all-hands-on-deck approach to ensure infrastructure is being built to support the new homes, highways and hospitals Ontarians need.

That’s why in this year’s budget, our government announced an additional $1 billion in the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program, along with $825 million for the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund.

I meet with plenty of municipalities across Ontario, whether it’s in northern or southern Ontario, and the number one concern we continue to hear in municipal affairs and housing is getting pipes in the ground and ensuring that those pipes lead to homes. I always tell my municipal colleagues that I’m happy to come and open any new pipe or any new sewer main across Ontario, because I know at the end of the day, that will lead to more homes being built—because you cannot give a building permit unless you have a toilet in that apartment, in that condo, in that townhome or single detached house—ensuring that we have those infrastructure needs met, to ensure we get more homes built across Ontario.

In my own community and in countless others across Ontario, our municipalities, councils and residents alike all support our efforts in increasing the housing supply, and they want to be part of that effort. However, in many rural cities and towns in particular, they’ve reached or are very close to reaching their current water and waste water supply capacity, posing a significant barrier to the construction of new homes and welcoming new residents. Our rural municipalities want to welcome these new Ontarians and new Canadians who are coming to our shores, but they need support to build the vital infrastructure that they need then to build the homes at the end of the day.

Our government will be there to support them in that effort. With our government’s investments in budget 2024 and our continued efforts to move forward with a Team Ontario approach, municipalities throughout Ontario will have the tools they need to get shovels in the ground

We have also embraced a multi-faceted approach in Ontario’s economic development and transportation: historic investments in our auto sector, such as NextStar in Windsor, Volkswagen in St. Thomas and, more recently, Honda in Alliston, just to name a few, and I know the Minister of Economic Development and the Premier continue to work day and night to attract more manufacturing and more business development and investment to Ontario after the very dark period of 15 years under the Liberal and NDP government, Speaker. It offers a glimpse into the productive and forward-looking prospects for innovation and employment in Ontario. We’re also taking steps that are necessary to build out our energy capacity and our world-class transportation networks, to ensure that these investments are supported as they scale beyond local arrangements into regional drivers of growth and development.

We know these investments would not have taken place under the previous Liberal government, which drove Ontario’s auto industry into the ground while the NDP sat idly by. I know, as recently came out—I believe today—in the news, that Ontario now has the most people working in auto manufacturing and manufacturing in Ontario since December 2008, Speaker. We have come a long way from those dark periods under the former Liberal government, but the job is not done.

I mentioned energy. We talk about energy often in this chamber. I know the Minster of Energy is up day after day talking about energy in this place and the hurtful impacts of the carbon tax. We talked about the previous time in the previous Liberal government; the dark clouds rolled over the part of the independent benches where the Liberals sit. We all know too well the mismanagement and fiscal strain that party imposed on taxpayers, and that’s why our government has taken a different approach. We’re building out a clean, green nuclear fleet, and we’re protecting the interests of Ontarians today and for years to come. We’re ensuring the province has the energy capacity not only to support the rapidly increasing number of households in this province, but also to ensure we remain an attractive investment destination.

Our government is building the first grid-scale small modular reactors in Canada, while also supporting the refurbishments of the Bruce, Darlington and Pickering Nuclear Generating Stations. I know our government will continue to take these actions, despite the provincial NDP not supporting our nuclear industry, which is honestly very shameful. All those good union jobs, as well—many live in my riding of Perth–Wellington and work at Bruce Nuclear. These investments represent our government’s responsible outlook on energy security and affordability, standing in stark contrast to what the past Liberals and NDP have demonstrated when they were in power.

Since 2018, our government has taken every measure to keep costs down, and budget 2024 is no different. While Liberals and New Democrats continue to drive up the cost of living with a punitive carbon tax, our government is extending the gas and fuel tax cuts until the end of this year, saving Ontario households on average $320 since it was first introduced in July 2022. I say “on average” because, as many will know in this place, if you live in northern or rural Ontario, you have to drive to go to the grocery store, to take your kids to hockey or soccer, to go to school or work. So I know that is saving my constituents even more over the course of this tax break.

While the federal Liberals, supported by the NDP federally and supported by their provincial colleagues and Bonnie Crombie—as we hear often, the queen of the carbon tax—continue to increase the cost of fuel, we’ll continue to ensure that we keep costs down so that those people can go to work and take their kids to school and extracurricular activities.

We’re also assisting Ontario’s colleges and universities with a historic investment of $1.3 billion in new funding, and we’re extending the tuition freeze for at least three more years, ensuring that our young people are supported as they embark on the next chapters of their lives.

At the same time, we’re reinforcing our efforts to alleviate pressures on our health care system while also attracting and retaining future doctors, registered and practical nurses and nurse practitioners.

In this year’s budget, our government announced the creation of a new medical school at York University—the first of its kind in Canada—which will be primarily focused on training family physician doctors. I know this is very needed in my community and communities across Ontario, and it was wonderful to hear this announcement.

But it just builds on our most recent budgets in 2023 and 2022, where we are expanding every single medical school in Ontario—those seats, Speaker—the first time we are doing that. We are not going to take lessons from the former Liberal government, where they cut medical school seats when they saw the same needs occurring for Ontarians—that people need a family physician. We’ll continue to invest in our education system to ensure that we’re training the next generation of doctors, ensuring that they have the skills and education they need to support a growing population in Ontario.

We also recognize that, within Ontario’s health care system, patients receive care differently depending on their needs and their communities. In Perth–Wellington, many of my constituents rely on primary care teams to ensure that they get the care that they need.

This past February, I had the distinct honour and pleasure to announce more than $822,000 in funding for the Listowel-Wingham and Area Family Health Team to expand primary care access to 2,000 residents across Huron and Perth counties, as well as more than $560,000 to the Minto-Mapleton Family Health Team to expand primary care to 1,600 residents.

As those who were here this morning in question period will know, we’ve already hired a nurse practitioner in the Minto-Mapleton Family Health Team, and they are taking new patients on, taking those patients out of the hospital system. They don’t have to go to the ER anymore to ensure that they receive their primary care. They can receive it in the community where they live. It’s these important investments that our government is making through this budget.

Speaker, I always want to highlight the fact that family health care teams have existed in the province of Ontario since 2005, but it took our government, under the leadership of Premier Ford and our Minister of Health, to expand these primary care teams. The previous Liberal government had 15 years to expand them. They did not. They did not expand primary care teams in Ontario anywhere. I really want to acknowledge that. They did not expand them. They let them languish.

Our government is doubling down on that effort. We’re investing over $540 million to expand primary care teams across Ontario. I was pleased to see when the minister made this announcement earlier this year that she is committed to ensuring that everyone who wants primary care will receive that access in the coming years, which is vitally important. These historic investments mean that family health teams in my riding and across rural Ontario will be able to hire additional staff and expand their capacity to serve their communities, and I take incredible pride in that fact.

In budget 2023, we accelerated the commitment of $1 billion over three years to stabilize the home and community care workforce while supporting an expansion of home care services. In this budget, we’re investing an additional $2 billion over three years to boost increased compensation for personal support workers, nurses and other front-line care providers, as well as to stabilize these expanded services. These investments our government is making are crucial to allowing Ontarians to age in place in the comfort of their homes and the communities that they helped build.

It’s particularly important in rural Ontario, where residents are sometimes faced with travelling a long distance to access care. Our government understands the unique ways of rural Ontario. That’s why we’ve taken steps to ensure those who don’t live in the big cities and towns still have access to high-quality services and benefit from economic development opportunity.

Just this past January, our government announced the beginning of consultations to help inform the development of a new rural economic development strategy. Part of that is rooted in the expansion of, obviously, high-speed Internet services that allow rural Ontarians to fully access the opportunities of the Internet age, as well as playing a role in technological innovation in our agri-food sector. We have invested $63 million to the Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology, or SWIFT, projects, and we’re delivering high-speed Internet access to more than 64,000 additional homes, businesses and farms across the region. Our government understands the value that both the economic and cultural aspects of Ontario’s agriculture sector brings to the table.

This past February, I was honoured to announce over $360,000 in funding for local meat producers to support the expansion of their processing capacity. These investments further our efforts to ensure food security and sustainability for Ontarians while also supporting the reshoring of value-added agricultural production and processing to Ontario.

In March, I announced a further $781,000 in funding for local agricultural producers through the Food Security and Supply Chain Fund. Speaker, VDB Grains in my riding received $70,000 which will allow them to move from diesel fuel to solar photocell technology to reduce their energy needs and operating costs, and, obviously, reduce their carbon footprint. So we’re supporting also reducing emissions in our agri-food sector without, again, a punitive Liberal federal carbon tax.

These investments further reflect our government’s commitment to supporting the agri-food sector in Perth–Wellington and across rural Ontario. And as agri-businesses and farm operations invest in new innovative technologies, they reduce costs while also embracing more sustainable practices.

In this government, we know how important the agricultural sector is to keeping families fed. We know that we must take the necessary steps to ensure food safety and security well into the future. In that spirit, we are also continuing to protect and restore the Great Lakes through the annual investments of $6.4 million to support innovative projects. This is in addition to more than $24 million we are investing in the Lake Simcoe Phosphorous Reduction Strategy to ensure the Holland River and Lake Simcoe can continue to support some of the most productive agricultural land in Canada.

Speaker, whether it’s our historic efforts to build millions of homes for the next generation of Ontarians; our investments in energy, health care or infrastructure; or the actions we have taken to restore rural Ontario, this budget is clear: It demonstrates a clear understanding of the needs of Ontarians. At a local level, I am proud to deliver these investments and support my constituents who have advocated tirelessly and worked with us to ensure the people of Perth–Wellington are well served.

I also know that the Liberals and NDP continue to miss out on important opportunities to demonstrate their interests in delivering for Ontarians. We have taken every measure to ensure Ontarians in all parts of the province are supported and that they are appreciated.

Earlier this month, we heard loud and clear just how much they appreciate our government. Speaker, residents in Lambton–Kent–Middlesex gave our government their full confidence, as did the residents in Milton, sending two Progressive Conservative representatives to Queen’s Park.

Speaker, all the pundits said Bonnie Crombie’s Liberal carbon-tax lovers were going to win Milton; they didn’t. The good people of Milton sent great advocates here in MPP-elect Hamid and MPP-elect Pinsonneault as well. I look forward to working alongside my two new colleagues and their local championships, who will continue to work for their communities while the Liberals and NDP make every effort to deny Ontarians the support they need.

Speaker, the people of Perth–Wellington support this budget. The people of Ontario support this budget. I urge my colleagues in the opposition and those in the independent benches to do the right thing and support this budget as well.

Thank you to my two colleagues for their great remarks on the budget.

As a fellow farm kid, my question is to the member from Niagara West. I’m just wondering if he could expand on the important investments we’re making in the vet sector and with the University of Guelph, in particular.

Thank you to my two colleagues for their remarks on the budget. In my opinion, it’s a great budget for our province.

I know my friend from Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound has been answering a lot of questions, but I was wondering if my friend could talk about the important investments that we’re making in skilled trades, especially around Bruce nuclear, which employs a lot of people in my own riding, as well.

Thank you to my colleague across the aisle for the question. What I can speak about, Speaker, is the investments we are making in this budget and in this bill. The $425 million extra, as I mentioned, is in addition to the $3.8 billion. I know in my riding, I actually just recently had an opportunity to tour a youth wellness hub. It’s called Grove. It brings youth supports, capital and programming supports, so the wraparound supports, to rural communities in my riding that traditionally never had it.

When I went to school in Palmerston, they didn’t exist there, and now they have a Grove Hub there. They’re very appreciative of the investments we’ve made to bring these supports to communities that traditionally may not have had these supports and had to travel to Guelph or Kitchener in my area or larger urban centres.

Over the weekend, I heard from car salespeople, car manufacturers and people in the manufacturing sector that this was great news for our region and area and all of southwestern Ontario.

To respond to the question the member opposite posed to me, I’d like to highlight it’s $202 million additional dollars that we’re proposing. And I’d also like to point out that the members opposite had the opportunity to help facilitate more non-profit, affordable and attainable housing, but they chose to vote against Bill 23 and those decisions, which is shameful. But this side of the government and the middle over there, Speaker, will continue to fight for my generation that’s looking to get in the market and the future generations in this province to build more homes—all types of homes across the housing continuum—and this budget is one key step in that platform.